Ghost of Tsushima demanded attention at E3 2018 with an enchanting gameplay trailer boasting truly next-gen in-engine graphics, but this curious open-world samurai adventure is shaping up to be a whole lot more than a pretty picture.

Today, Sony released a brief ‘Making Of’ feature detailing the rigorous effort developers are putting into historical accuracy. It isn’t new that Ghost of Tsushima will follow the events of the first Mongol invasion of Japan, but the amount of research and care on the part of the developers is both eye-opening and encouraging for anyone looking forward to the forthcoming PS4 exclusive.

From developer Sucker Punch Productions (Infamous), Ghost of Tsushima is a single-player stealth action game that takes place in 13th century Japan on the island of Tsushima. Players will control the last samurai, Jin Sakai, and take arms against the Mongol forces to secure Japan’s independence.

In the roughly minute-long video titled ‘The Making of Ghost of Tsushima: Recreating 13th Century Japan,’ Creative Director Nate Fox explains the need as a developer to become familiar with the geography, culture, and history of Tsushima Island in 13th century Japan.

Fox also emphasized the team’s dedication to crafting a believable, multi-dimensional story with dynamic characters.

“We’ve had two trips to Tsushima Island itself. We communicate a lot with experts in different fields, from the way that a samurai would hold their katana to, even, drink sake, to dialogue experts, to experts in religion [at] the time.”

In the gameplay trailer shown at this year’s E3, it’s made clear that Ghost of Tsushima doesn’t shy away from bloodshed, with brutally realistic battle animations on full display. That visceral imagery combined with the moral ambiguity of war may encourage a more careful, thoughtful approach to combat.

“We really want the Mongols to not be cardboard-cutout villains. We want them to be three-dimensional… Having the leader, Kotan Khan, be so, frankly, reasonable, is unsettling. Because, in his own mind, he’s right. He’s a hero, from his own perspective.”

Speaking of which, it was recently revealed that combat in Ghost of Tsushima will rely more on skill than hack ’n slash mechanics, a relief for those looking for a real challenge.

Ghost of Tsushima has yet to reveal an official release window.